Malachy McCourt

Malachy McCourt

Author and Actor

Malachy McCourt was born in Brooklyn, USA and from the age of three was raised in Limerick, Ireland. He returned to the land of his birth at the age of twenty and again worked at the manual tasks such as longshoreman, truck loader, dishwasher, until he became an actor. That career took him to Broadway and Off-Broadway and regional theatres in plays such as Mass Appeal, Da, The Hostage, Inherit the Wind, Carousel and Translations. The soap operas such as Ryan's Hope, Search for Tomorrow, One Life to Live, and All My Children were also a good source of work and sustenance as were the movies Molly Maguires, She's the One, The Devil's Own, Green Card, and TV movies such as You Can't Go Home Again and The Dain Curse. Due to a heavy schedule of writing, book signings and public appearances McCourt had to take a sabbatical from the acting trade but is now back after completing five movies Happy Hour, Guru of Sex, Gods and Generals, and Ash Wednesday plus a running part in the HBO prison series Oz. As well as being the co-author of the play A Couple of Blaguards with his brother Frank, Malachy has written his own New York Times bestseller memoir, A Monk Swimming, published by Hyperion Press. His memoir, Singing My Him Song, now out in paperback is published by Harper Collins. Running Press recently published four of Malachy’s books: the history of the song Danny Boy, a history of The Claddagh Ring, Voices of Ireland, an anthology, and Malachy McCourt’s History of Ireland. Recent books, Harold Be Thy Name and Bush Lies in State, are published by Welcome Rain. In the works is I Never Drink When I’m Sober for Harper Collins. Malachy writes a column, Sez I to Myself, that appears in the Manhattan Spirit, The Westsider and Our Town in NYC. 

 

 

2mins
Malachy McCourt describes the worst career advice he’s ever received.
1mins
The Irish author wonders what we can do about war.
2mins
After 55 years in New York City, Malachy McCourt reflects upon its evolution.
7mins
“He was the only smaller person that I looked up to,” says his younger brother Malachy.
8mins
When Malachy McCourt ran for governor, he promised to change the name of the state.
9mins
“My purpose in life always has been to avoid work,” confides Malachy McCourt. “And I hear people saying, ‘I work hard and I pay my taxes.’ Well, you’re an asshole.”
5mins
The Irish, because they had nothing else to do, used language and glorious terms.
8mins
Over there we’re Yanks, over here we’re Irish. My brother Frank and myself decided a long time ago that what we are is New Yorkers.
4mins
In the US, they don’t let gays march, whereas in Ireland, gay people get prizes for being the most colorful group.
48mins
A conversation with the Irish author and actor.